❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Premier about the lack of data on fine defaulters incarcerated in WA police lockups, particularly concerning its impact on Aboriginal people, following the death of Ms. Dhu. The Premier acknowledges the tragedy and ongoing work but avoids directly answering the questions.
AnsweredQoN 1038Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JULIEKA
IVANNA DHU — DEATH IN CUSTODY — CORONER'S INQUIRY
1038. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Premier:
I refer to the coroner's inquiry into the tragic
death of Ms Dhu in a police lockup and that inquiry being advised that she was
incarcerated solely for being unable to pay fines.
(1) Is the
Premier aware that the Commissioner of Police does not know how many fine
defaulters are incarcerated in the state's police lockups and that he
has refused to dedicate any resources to identify this information?
(2) How can
this government reduce the number of Aboriginal people in police lockups if it
does not know how many are affected?
IVANNA DHU — DEATH IN CUSTODY — CORONER'S INQUIRY
1038. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Premier:
I refer to the coroner's inquiry into the tragic
death of Ms Dhu in a police lockup and that inquiry being advised that she was
incarcerated solely for being unable to pay fines.
(1) Is the
Premier aware that the Commissioner of Police does not know how many fine
defaulters are incarcerated in the state's police lockups and that he
has refused to dedicate any resources to identify this information?
(2) How can
this government reduce the number of Aboriginal people in police lockups if it
does not know how many are affected?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I think the death of Ms Dhu was a shameful episode. Having said that, I think
we should wait until the full coroner's report comes out. Members might
recall that I met with Ms Dhu's mother and family members in Port Hedland.
With the help of the Minister for Police, I was able to meet one of their
wishes; that is, they had the right to look at the cells where Ms Dhu passed
away. They also requested that the coroner's inquiry come on earlier,
and that has also been delivered. We should wait for the outcome of that.
There is clearly an issue about
the high representation of Aboriginal people in our justice system. The
Minister for Corrective Services, the Attorney General and the Minister for
Police are working on that. We are doing all that we can to try to bring down
that rate. I think it is wrong to try to link the tragic and shameful death of
Ms Dhu in the way in which the member opposite has attempted to do.
I think the death of Ms Dhu was a shameful episode. Having said that, I think
we should wait until the full coroner's report comes out. Members might
recall that I met with Ms Dhu's mother and family members in Port Hedland.
With the help of the Minister for Police, I was able to meet one of their
wishes; that is, they had the right to look at the cells where Ms Dhu passed
away. They also requested that the coroner's inquiry come on earlier,
and that has also been delivered. We should wait for the outcome of that.
There is clearly an issue about
the high representation of Aboriginal people in our justice system. The
Minister for Corrective Services, the Attorney General and the Minister for
Police are working on that. We are doing all that we can to try to bring down
that rate. I think it is wrong to try to link the tragic and shameful death of
Ms Dhu in the way in which the member opposite has attempted to do.
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